I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. Ralph Nader. Doctors have always been highly regarded, and are considered to be the elite of society. The community looks upto them, and they are expected to be role models which others can emulate.
Thus, while one would expect many doctors to be leaders, unfortunately, very few are. Names like Dr Albert Schweitzer; Dr Jivraj Mehta ; and Dr Bernard Lown ( who founded International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985) spring to mind, but most of us would be very hard-pressed to think of even a single contemporary Indian doctor who could legitimately be considered to be a leader. Why is this so ? Is it because Indian doctors are too busy taking such good care of their patients, that they cannot spend any time or energy in…
